Signify and BRAC distribute solar lanterns in Bangladesh

6th August 2018

(Netherlands) – Signify and BRAC supply families with solar lanterns in Bangladesh to improve safety for women and children at night.

Signify and BRAC, an international non-governmental development organisation, will distribute Philips LifeLight solar lanterns to families who have been sheltering in makeshift settlements across Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh.

The solar lanterns will significantly improve the safety and security of women and children at night. So far, 22,495 families have received lanterns, reaching 132,720 individuals, of which 66,360 are children.

Prajna Khanna, Director of the Signify Foundation, said: “Lighting is a key enabler to create safer spaces. Especially in refugee camps where women and children are vulnerable to exploitation and abuse, lighting can make a real difference. Our continued collaboration with BRAC leverages the strengths and resources of both organisations to deliver interventions like these.”

Previously, the camps have been pitch black at night making basic activities near impossible. Furthermore, there were immediate concerns about the safety and security of women and children moving around the camps at night. Lighting was needed to increase security and support their basic needs.

Senior Director, Strategy, Communication and Empowerment at BRAC and BRAC International, Asif Saleh, said: “These clean solar powered lights will make the camps a much safer place at night, and are therefore making a much-needed contribution to the lives of people who are spending days in unimaginable difficulties. We hope this partnership with an organisation like Signify will be another step towards making lasting impact.”

Padmanava Gupta, Managing Director at Signify’s operations in Bangladesh said: “At Signify, our ambition is to create safer spaces for communities. We are honored that we’re able to support this noble cause by donating our solar-powered LifeLight Lanterns to Rohingya families living in Cox’s Bazar.”

BRAC will distribute the solar lamps through its network of offices, seed and agricultural staff and community health workers. It will provide detailed training on care and maintenance and how to get replacements under warranty. Each lamp will be accompanied by an instruction and information sheet in the Rakhine language and script. BRAC will also work with local solar companies and local companies in the Cox’s Bazar area to install and maintain the LifeLight Home systems. These companies will be trained on the specific Philips-branded products and will provide technical support.